MONROE - Brian Schneider is a firm believer that no lead is insurmountable. The Cheesemakers were believing Friday night as they stormed back from a 21-point deficit but fell just short at the buzzer, losing 50-49 to Madison Edgewood.
Edgewood senior Spencer Brink missed a jumper late in the fourth quarter and senior Chris Wells grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 2.8 seconds to go. Wells made 1 of 2 free throws in what proved to be the difference. Monroe junior Alex Barenklau was called for traveling before his halfcourt shot hit the rim at the buzzer.
The Cheesemakers went on a 14-0 run that stretched from the third quarter into the fourth, tying the game at 49.
"We just had to keep competing, rebounding and keep fighting," said Schneider, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. "We didn't want to back down."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy liked the Cheesemakers' resiliency clawing back into the game.
"Wells is a good athlete," Murphy said. "I was hoping we could get a little more depth on him. We just seem to be giving up too many offensive rebounds. We had a lot of guys busting their butts. That's all you can ask for as a coach."
Murphy said the Cheesemakers were trying to draw a charge on an Edgewood player inbounding the ball in the final seconds on Barenklau's desperation shot.
"A traveling call is a tough call to make there," Murphy said. "Once they blew the whistle, I thought it was going to be a hold on them. (The officials) have a tough job, and we have a tough job to do too."
Monroe (8-13, 3-9 Badger South) had a golden opportunity with the game tied at 49 and the ball. Monroe senior Austin Burandt set a screen for Barenklau going to the basket, but the Cheesemakers couldn't convert.
Murphy said he considered holding for one shot.
"We wanted to get something going to the basket," Murphy said. "It's easy to second-guess it now. It's not the perfect time to run flat. I feel like they would not let us sit back and do that."
The Crusaders (15-5, 8-3) went on a 12-4 run to start the third quarter. Austin Arians and Jack Zwettler each buried 3-pointers to give the Crusaders a 19-point lead. Wells then hit a baseline jumper to stretch the Crusaders' to 21 with 4:35 left in the third quarter. Zwettler scored a total of 14 points in the game, and Arians put up 13.
"They were getting in their comfort spots in the first half," Murphy said. "I thought we played better defense in the second half. We were bumping them off their spots."
Because it was Senior Night, Murphy used his bench a lot, and the Cheesemakers got solid production. Monroe scored 10 unanswered points to end the third quarter.
The Cheesemakers' spurt was sparked by Schneider who was fouled on a drive to the basket. Wells was also called for a technical. Schneider made three free throws and then scored on a putback for a five-point possession that cut the Crusaders' lead to 43-27. Monroe sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner drilled a jumper that helped pull the Cheesemakers within 12 points to start the fourth quarter.
Hirsbrunner also scored on a layup with 7:04 left in the fourth quarter to slice the Crusaders' lead to 43-35. Burandt and Schneider added to the surge, each hitting 3-pointers to cut the Crusaders' lead to 49-45 with 3:21 left. Barenklau then scored on a putback with 2:15 to go to tie the game at 49.
Barenklau scored 11 total points, and Burandt added six for the Cheesemakers.
Barenklau's tying putback set the stage for the final seconds when Wells was able to grab a clutch offensive rebound and hit the decisive free throw.
"I feel bad for our guys," Murphy said. "You would have liked to get some momentum heading into the seeding meeting."
Despite the loss, the positives were clear after the final buzzer.
Schneider said the Cheesemakers can build some momentum in the fact that they can come back against a top team like Edgewood.
Notes: The Monroe boys cross country team was honored at halftime for winning the Badger South Conference and making a run to state last fall. It marks Monroe's 22nd conference championship in cross country, which is a Badger Conference record. The Cheesemakers also finished sixth at the WIAA Division 2 state meet. The Monroe boys Division 2 state championship 3,200-meter relay team was also honored at the end of the third quarter. The team, which consisted of Alex Barenklau, Matt Bush, Ethan Moehn and Dylan Starck, won the state title with a time of 7 minutes, 57.61 seconds last spring.
Edgewood senior Spencer Brink missed a jumper late in the fourth quarter and senior Chris Wells grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 2.8 seconds to go. Wells made 1 of 2 free throws in what proved to be the difference. Monroe junior Alex Barenklau was called for traveling before his halfcourt shot hit the rim at the buzzer.
The Cheesemakers went on a 14-0 run that stretched from the third quarter into the fourth, tying the game at 49.
"We just had to keep competing, rebounding and keep fighting," said Schneider, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. "We didn't want to back down."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy liked the Cheesemakers' resiliency clawing back into the game.
"Wells is a good athlete," Murphy said. "I was hoping we could get a little more depth on him. We just seem to be giving up too many offensive rebounds. We had a lot of guys busting their butts. That's all you can ask for as a coach."
Murphy said the Cheesemakers were trying to draw a charge on an Edgewood player inbounding the ball in the final seconds on Barenklau's desperation shot.
"A traveling call is a tough call to make there," Murphy said. "Once they blew the whistle, I thought it was going to be a hold on them. (The officials) have a tough job, and we have a tough job to do too."
Monroe (8-13, 3-9 Badger South) had a golden opportunity with the game tied at 49 and the ball. Monroe senior Austin Burandt set a screen for Barenklau going to the basket, but the Cheesemakers couldn't convert.
Murphy said he considered holding for one shot.
"We wanted to get something going to the basket," Murphy said. "It's easy to second-guess it now. It's not the perfect time to run flat. I feel like they would not let us sit back and do that."
The Crusaders (15-5, 8-3) went on a 12-4 run to start the third quarter. Austin Arians and Jack Zwettler each buried 3-pointers to give the Crusaders a 19-point lead. Wells then hit a baseline jumper to stretch the Crusaders' to 21 with 4:35 left in the third quarter. Zwettler scored a total of 14 points in the game, and Arians put up 13.
"They were getting in their comfort spots in the first half," Murphy said. "I thought we played better defense in the second half. We were bumping them off their spots."
Because it was Senior Night, Murphy used his bench a lot, and the Cheesemakers got solid production. Monroe scored 10 unanswered points to end the third quarter.
The Cheesemakers' spurt was sparked by Schneider who was fouled on a drive to the basket. Wells was also called for a technical. Schneider made three free throws and then scored on a putback for a five-point possession that cut the Crusaders' lead to 43-27. Monroe sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner drilled a jumper that helped pull the Cheesemakers within 12 points to start the fourth quarter.
Hirsbrunner also scored on a layup with 7:04 left in the fourth quarter to slice the Crusaders' lead to 43-35. Burandt and Schneider added to the surge, each hitting 3-pointers to cut the Crusaders' lead to 49-45 with 3:21 left. Barenklau then scored on a putback with 2:15 to go to tie the game at 49.
Barenklau scored 11 total points, and Burandt added six for the Cheesemakers.
Barenklau's tying putback set the stage for the final seconds when Wells was able to grab a clutch offensive rebound and hit the decisive free throw.
"I feel bad for our guys," Murphy said. "You would have liked to get some momentum heading into the seeding meeting."
Despite the loss, the positives were clear after the final buzzer.
Schneider said the Cheesemakers can build some momentum in the fact that they can come back against a top team like Edgewood.
Notes: The Monroe boys cross country team was honored at halftime for winning the Badger South Conference and making a run to state last fall. It marks Monroe's 22nd conference championship in cross country, which is a Badger Conference record. The Cheesemakers also finished sixth at the WIAA Division 2 state meet. The Monroe boys Division 2 state championship 3,200-meter relay team was also honored at the end of the third quarter. The team, which consisted of Alex Barenklau, Matt Bush, Ethan Moehn and Dylan Starck, won the state title with a time of 7 minutes, 57.61 seconds last spring.
